Readers to analyze security features on objects

Abstract

The present invention provides readers to analyze emerging security or authentication feature for physical objects (e.g., identification documents, product packaging, banknotes, etc.). One claim recites a reader including: an excitation source to excite an object with first non-visible light, the object comprising first indicia provided with a first ink or dye and second indicia provided with a second ink or dye, the second ink or dye comprising an emission decay time that is relatively longer than an emission decay time of the first ink or dye, the first indicia and the second indicia collectively conveying a first machine readable feature when illuminated with the first non-visible light, with the second indicia individually conveying a second machine readable feature after emissions attributable to the first indicia fall to a first level; and a code reader to read at least the second machine readable feature after emissions attributable to the first ink or dye fall to the first level and before emissions attributable to the second ink or dye fall to a second level. Other claims and combinations are provided as well.

1. A reader to analyze a physical object comprising:
 an input to receive data corresponding to optical scan data, the optical scan data corresponding to at least a portion of a physical document, the physical document including,
 first indicia provided on a surface of the object with a first ink or dye, the first ink or dye having a first emission decay rate; 
 second indicia provided on the surface of the object with a second ink or dye, the second ink or dye including a second emission decay rate, wherein the first emission decay rate is relatively shorter than the second emission decay rate, 
 the first indicia and second indicia are arranged on the surface of the object so as to collectively convey a first machine readable code when the first ink or dye and the second ink or dye are excited by non-visible light; and 
 
 electronic processing circuitry to read a second machine-readable code that is carried by the second indicia, the second machine-readable code becomes readable as emissions from the first ink or dye decrease to at least a first predetermined level, but before the emissions from the second ink or dye decrease to a second predetermined level. 
 
     
     
       2. The reader of  claim 1  further comprising memory including instructions for execution by said electronic processing circuitry, the instructions comprising instructions to read the second machine-readable code. 
     
     
       3. The reader of  claim 2  wherein the instructions further comprise instructions to read the first machine readable code. 
     
     
       4. The reader of  claim 1  wherein the electronic processing circuitry is operating to read the second machine readable code. 
     
     
       5. The reader of  claim 1  where the non-visible light comprises ultraviolet light. 
     
     
       6. The reader of  claim 1  where the non-visible light comprises infrared light. 
     
     
       7. The reader of  claim 1  where the first machine readable code comprises a first barcode, and the second machine readable code comprises a second barcode. 
     
     
       8. The reader of  claim 1  wherein the first machine readable code comprises a first digital watermark, and the second machine readable code comprises a second digital watermark. 
     
     
       9. The reader of  claim 1  where the first machine readable code is visibly perceptible by a human viewer during illumination by the non-visible light and for at least a period of time following such illumination, and where the second machine readable code is distinguishable from the first machine readable code by a human viewer only after the emissions of the first ink or dye reach the first predetermined level. 
     
     
       10. The reader of  claim 1  where the first machine readable code comprises a first barcode representing first auxiliary data, and wherein the second machine readable code comprises a second barcode representing second auxiliary data, and where at least some of the second auxiliary data is different than the first auxiliary data. 
     
     
       11. The reader of  claim 1  where the physical object comprises at least a banknote, identification document or product packaging. 
     
     
       12. The reader of  claim 1  in which said electronic processing circuitry comprising a programmed electronic processor. 
     
     
       13. A reader comprising:
 an excitation source to excite an object with first non-visible light, the object comprising first indicia provided with a first ink or dye and second indicia provided with a second ink or dye, the second ink or dye comprising an emission decay time that is relatively longer than an emission decay time of the first ink or dye, the first indicia and the second indicia collectively conveying a first machine readable feature when illuminated with the first non-visible light, with the second indicia individually conveying a second machine readable feature after emissions attributable to the first indicia fall to a first level; and 
 a code reader to read at least the second machine readable feature after emissions attributable to the first ink or dye fall to the first level and before emissions attributable to the second ink or dye fall to a second level. 
 
     
     
       14. The reader of  claim 13  wherein the code reader is also for reading the first machine readable feature. 
     
     
       15. The reader of  claim 14  wherein the reader determines whether the first machine readable feature and the second machine readable feature are correlated in an expected manner. 
     
     
       16. The reader of  claim 13  where the first machine readable feature comprises a first barcode. 
     
     
       17. The reader of  claim 16  where the second machine readable feature comprises a second barcode. 
     
     
       18. The reader of  claim 13  wherein the first machine readable code comprises first digital watermarking. 
     
     
       19. The reader of  claim 18  wherein the second machine readable features comprises second digital watermarking. 
     
     
       20. The reader of  claim 13  where the first machine readable feature is visibly perceptible by a human viewer during illumination by the first non-visible light and for at least a period of time following such illumination, and where the second machine readable feature is distinguishable from the first machine readable feature by a human viewer only after the emissions of the first ink or dye reach the first level. 
     
     
       21. The reader of  claim 13  where the first machine readable feature comprises a first barcode representing first auxiliary data, and wherein the second machine readable feature comprises a second barcode representing second auxiliary data, and where at least some of the second auxiliary data is different than the first auxiliary data. 
     
     
       22. The reader of  claim 13  in which said code reader is operating to read at least the second machine readable feature. 
     
     
       23. The reader of  claim 13  in which said excitation source is operating to excite the object with first non-visible light. 
     
     
       24. The reader of  claim 13  in which an electronic processor is programmed as said code reader. 
     
     
       25. The reader of  claim 24  in which said code reader is operating to read at least the second machine readable feature.